Apparatus and method for alternate channel communication initiated through a common message thread

ABSTRACT

A server includes a processor and a memory storing a multiple channel message thread module with instructions executed by the processor to identify when participants at client devices are viewing a common message thread. An alternate channel communication prompt is supplied to the client devices. An alternate channel communication is delivered to the client devices in response to activation of the alternate channel communication prompt by at least one participant.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/187,005 filed Feb. 21, 2014, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to communications in computer networks.More particularly, this invention relates to techniques for initiatingan additional communication channel from a common text messagecommunication channel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, when a first individual desires to initiate a telephone callor video call with a second individual the first individual uses his orher communication equipment to initiate a ringtone at the communicationequipment of the second individual. Acknowledgement of the ringtone isrequired to establish the presence of the second individual. The ringtone notification technique has been relied upon since the inception oftelephones, well over one hundred years ago. It would be desirable tofind an alternate methodology to establish the presence of an individualand to initiate conversations, without reliance upon a technique overone hundred years old that is a relic of the technical constraints ofanalog telephony.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A server includes a processor and a memory storing a multiple channelmessage thread module with instructions executed by the processor toidentify when participants at client devices are viewing a commonmessage thread. An alternate channel communication prompt is supplied tothe client devices. An alternate channel communication is delivered tothe client devices in response to activation of the alternate channelcommunication prompt by at least one participant.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention is more fully appreciated in connection with the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a system configured in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates processing operations associated with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates user interface attributes associated with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates user interface attributes, including an alternatechannel communication indicator, associated with an embodiment of theinvention.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 configured in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The system 100 includes a set of clientdevices 102_1 through 102_N connected to a server 104 via a network 106,which may be any combination of wired and wireless networks.

Each client device 102 includes standard components, such as a centralprocessing unit 110 and input/output devices 112 connected via a bus114. The input/output devices 112 may include a touch display, keyboard,trackball and the like. A network interface circuit 116 is alsoconnected to the bus 114 to provide connectivity to network 106. Amemory 120 is also connected to the bus 114. The memory 120 stores acommunication module 122, which may be a browser or an application tosupport communications with server 104. The client device 102 istypically a mobile device, such as a Smartphone or Tablet.

Server 104 also includes standard components, such as a centralprocessing unit 160, a bus 162, input/output devices 164 and a networkinterface circuit 166. A memory 170 is also connected to the bus 162.The memory 170 stores a multiple channel message module 172, whichincludes executable instructions to implement operations of theinvention. In short, the executable instructions identify the commonpresence of participants in a text based thread. In response, to suchcommon presence, participants are afforded the opportunity to initiatean alternate communication channel, such as an audio channel or voicechannel without the prerequisite of a ringtone.

FIG. 2 illustrates operations associated with an embodiment of theinvention. In particular, the figure illustrates operations performed bytwo client devices 102_1 and 102_2, as coordinated by the message server104. Initially, the message server 104 serves a thread 200. By way ofexample, the thread is a text communication sequence between a firstparticipant associated with client 102_1 and a second participantassociated with client 102_2. Additional participants may be involved,but are omitted for simplicity of presentation.

The client device 102_1 collects a new text entry 202, which is routedby the message server 104 to client 102_2. The client 102_2 displays thetext 206. The message server 104 determines if the participants areviewing the same thread 208. That is, the message server 104 evaluateswhether each client device is actively displaying the same thread on thedisplay of the client device. If so, the message server proactivelyactivates an alternate channel communication 210. This can be thought ofas a digital call set-up, where the telephone call is muted but active.The server also supplies each device with an alternate channelcommunication prompt 211. The alternate channel communication prompt isdisplayed 212 on client 102_1 and is displayed 214 on client 102_2. Thealternate channel communication prompt signals to the participants thatthe message thread is being actively viewed by each participant.

FIG. 3 illustrates client device 102_2 with a display 300 and keyboard302. The display shows a thread entry 304 and an associated prompt 306indicating common viewing of the thread. The prompt 306 may be in theform of text, an icon, an image and the like.

Returning to FIG. 2, the message server 104 determines whether theprompt is activated 216. For example, activation may be in the form ofhaptic contact by the participant on the prompt as displayed on ascreen. If a prompt is activated, then the message server 104 delivers(e.g., un-mutes the set up call) the alternate channel communication218. The alternate channel communication may be presented 220 on client102_1 and/or be presented 222 on client 102_2. The processing of FIG. 2is advantageous because of the proactive activation of the alternatechannel communication before a prompt is activated. An alternateembodiment may activate the alternate channel communication in responseto prompt activation.

FIG. 4 illustrates client 102_1 with a display 400 and keyboard 402. Thedisplay 400 has a thread entry 404, a prompt 406 and an alternatechannel indicator 408. In this example, the alternate channel indicator408 may be a speaker indicative of an audio channel being initiated bythe participant using client device 102_2. The alternate channelindicator 408 may be a block of video initiated by the participant usingclient device 102_2. In the example of FIG. 4, the message thread isshown with the alternate channel indicator. Alternately, the alternatechannel indicator may occupy the entire display, which would bedesirable in the case of a video session.

In one embodiment, the alternate channel communication persists duringhaptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt by atleast one participant. The alternate channel communication may includeinput from each participant making haptic contact with the alternatechannel communication prompt.

The alternate channel communication may be a unidirectional audiosession initiated through haptic content of a prompt by a firstparticipant that is broadcast to the remaining participants. Thealternate channel communication may be a bidirectional audio sessionbetween participants making haptic contact with the alternate channelcommunication prompt.

The alternate channel communication may be a unidirectional videosession initiated through haptic contact of a prompt by a firstparticipant that is broadcast to the remaining participants. Thealternate channel communication may be a bidirectional video sessionbetween participants making haptic contact with the alternate channelcommunication prompt.

The prompt may include channel selection options, such as audio and/orvideo. The alternate channel communications may be coordinated throughthe message server using Internet Protocol packet switching techniques.

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a computer storageproduct with a non-transitory computer readable storage medium havingcomputer code thereon for performing various computer-implementedoperations. The media and computer code may be those specially designedand constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they maybe of the kind well known and available to those having skill in thecomputer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include, butare not limited to: magnetic media, optical media, magneto-optical mediaand hardware devices that are specially configured to store and executeprogram code, such as application-specific integrated circuits(“ASICs”), programmable logic devices (“PLDs”) and ROM and RAM devices.Examples of computer code include machine code, such as produced by acompiler, and files containing higher-level code that are executed by acomputer using an interpreter. For example, an embodiment of theinvention may be implemented using JAVA®, C++, or other object-orientedprogramming language and development tools. Another embodiment of theinvention may be implemented in hardwired circuitry in place of, or incombination with, machine-executable software instructions.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention.However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specificdetails are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, theforegoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention arepresented for purposes of illustration and description. They are notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formsdisclosed; obviously, many modifications and variations are possible inview of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and describedin order to best explain the principles of the invention and itspractical applications, they thereby enable others skilled in the art tobest utilize the invention and various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It isintended that the following claims and their equivalents define thescope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A server, comprising: a processor; and a memorystoring instructions executed by the processor to: identify when a firstparticipant at a first client device and a second participant at asecond client device are actively viewing a common message thread at thesame time; provide, in response to the identifying and without inputfrom the first or second participants, for an alternate channelcommunication prompt to be displayed beneath a thread entry of thecommon message thread on the first client device and on the secondclient device, the alternate channel communication prompt for providingalternate channel communication between the first and second clientdevices; receive, from the first client device, an indication that thealternate channel communication prompt was selected by the firstparticipant; and in response to receiving the indication, provide forthe alternate channel communication between the first and second clientdevices, and provide for an alternate channel communication indicator tobe displayed beneath the alternative channel communication prompt on thesecond client device, the alternative channel communication indicatorindicating that the alternate channel communication was initiated by thefirst participant using the first client device.
 2. The server of claim1, wherein the alternate channel communication persists during hapticcontact with the alternate channel communication prompt by the firstparticipant.
 3. The server of claim 2, wherein the alternate channelcommunication further includes input from the second participant makinghaptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt displayedon the second client device.
 4. The server of claim 1, wherein thealternate channel communication is a unidirectional audio sessioninitiated by the first participant that is broadcast to the secondparticipant.
 5. The server of claim 1, wherein the alternate channelcommunication is a bidirectional audio session between the first andsecond participants making haptic contact with the alternate channelcommunication prompt.
 6. The server of claim 1, wherein the alternatechannel communication is a unidirectional video session initiated by thefirst participant that is broadcast to the second participant.
 7. Theserver of claim 1, wherein the alternate channel communication is abidirectional video session between the first and second participantsmaking haptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt.8. The server of claim 1, wherein the memory stores instructionsexecuted by the processor to: proactively activate an alternate channelcommunication in response to the identifying, wherein the alternatechannel communication is a telephone call muted; and un-mute thetelephone call in response to activation of the alternate channelcommunication prompt.
 9. The server of claim 1, wherein the memorystores instructions executed by the processor to: activate the alternatechannel communication in response to receiving the indication.
 10. Amethod, comprising: identifying when a first participant at a firstclient device and a second participant at a second client device areactively viewing a common message thread at the same time; providing, inresponse to the identifying and without input from the first or secondparticipants, for an alternate channel communication prompt to bedisplayed beneath a thread entry of the common message thread on thefirst client device and on the second client device, the alternatechannel communication prompt for providing alternate channelcommunication between the first and second client devices; receiving,from the first client device, an indication that the alternate channelcommunication prompt was selected by the first participant; and inresponse to receiving the indication, providing for the alternatechannel communication between the first and second client devices, andproviding for an alternate channel communication indicator to bedisplayed beneath the alternative channel communication prompt on thesecond client device, the alternative channel communication indicatorindicating that the alternate channel communication was initiated by thefirst participant using the first client device.
 11. The method of claim10, wherein the alternate channel communication persists during hapticcontact with the alternate channel communication prompt by the firstparticipant.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the alternate channelcommunication further includes input from the second participant makinghaptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt displayedon the second client device.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein thealternate channel communication is a unidirectional audio sessioninitiated by the first participant that is broadcast to the secondparticipant.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the alternate channelcommunication is a bidirectional audio session between the first andsecond participants making haptic contact with the alternate channelcommunication prompt.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the alternatechannel communication is a unidirectional video session initiated by thefirst participant that is broadcast to the second participant.
 16. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the alternate channel communication is abidirectional video session between the first and second participantsmaking haptic contact with the alternate channel communication prompt.17. The method of claim 10, further comprising: proactively activatingan alternate channel communication in response to the identifying,wherein the alternate channel communication is a telephone call muted;and un-muting the telephone call in response to activation of thealternate channel communication prompt.
 18. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed bya computing device, cause the computing device to perform operationscomprising: identifying when a first participant at a first clientdevice and a second participant at a second client device are activelyviewing a common message thread at the same time; providing, in responseto the identifying and without input from the first or secondparticipants, for an alternate channel communication prompt to bedisplayed beneath a thread entry of the common message thread on thefirst client device and on the second client device, the alternatechannel communication prompt for providing alternative channelcommunication between the first and second client devices; receiving,from the first client device, an indication that the alternate channelcommunication prompt was selected by the first participant; and inresponse to receiving the indication, providing for the alternatechannel communication between the first and second client devices, andproviding for an alternate channel communication indicator to bedisplayed beneath the alternative channel communication prompt on thesecond client device, the alternative channel communication indicatorindicating that the alternate channel communication was initiated by thefirst participant using the first client device.